The 5 best swimming spots in and around Chicago
- Playbar
- Mount Baldy
- Tubing on the Kishwaukee River
- Hartigan Beach
- Scuba Diving in Haigh Quarry
Full Answer
Can you swim in Chicago beaches?
Admission to Chicago's beaches is free. The beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Swimming is permitted at beaches during the beach season when lifeguards are on duty from 11 am - 7 pm daily. Swimming anywhere else along the lakefront is not permitted.
Can you swim at Jackson Park Beach Chicago?
The beach is part of historic Jackson Park, one of the city’s oldest parks and the site of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive What to do: The beach offers a designated area for distance swimming and is the perfect stop after exploring the Museum of Science and Industry across the street.
Where's the best outdoor swimming pool in Chicago?
Holstein Park Pool offers one of the best outdoor lap experiences in Chicago. Matt M This 50-yard outdoor Chicago Park District pool at 2200 N. Oakley is a great option for swimmers in Bucktown and Wicker Park looking to put in their miles.
What are the Best Places in Chicago to train for triathlon?
1. Ohio Street Beach Swimming along the seawall at Ohio Street Beach provides an easy way to put in the open-water miles. Marc Buehler This is where the city triathletes go to train—and you really can’t beat it. The beach at Ohio Street , just before you get to Navy Pier, actually faces north.
Can you swim anywhere in Chicago?
Admission to Chicago's beaches is free. The beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Swimming is permitted in designated swim areas at the beaches during the beach season when lifeguards are on duty from 11 am - 7 pm daily.
Can you swim in the lake in Chicago?
people do swim in the lake. There are several nice beaches. North ave being the most famous.
Can you swim in Chicago right now?
According to the Chicago Park District, swimming is allowed daily from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., only if as swim conditions allow and lifeguards are on duty.
Does Chicago have any beaches?
North Avenue Beach is one of Chicago's most popular beaches with locals and visitors alike, thanks to its spacious sands, cool beachfront bars, and convenient location near other top attractions (like the nearby Lincoln Park Zoo).
Is it too cold to swim in Chicago?
Swimming in cold water, generally any water below 70 degrees, is dangerous because it can cause hypothermia or cause someone to drown, Dorneker said. “So water temperature in the 50s is going to zap your strength when you swim,” he said.
Is the sand on Chicago beaches natural?
our beaches are both natural and unnatural. While the sand is entirely native to the area, our shoreline wouldn't be very “beachy” if we didn't engineer them to be that way.
Why is the water so green in Chicago?
In 1962, Chicago city workers dumped 100 pounds of dye into the river flowing through downtown Chicago. It left the river emerald green for an entire week and kick-started an annual tradition. The city celebrated the 60th anniversary of the event this past weekend.
Does Chicago have nice beaches?
Of the many things to love about summer in Chicago, the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan are among the most treasured parts of the season....Best beaches in ChicagoOak Street Beach. ... Rainbow Beach and Park. ... North Avenue Beach. ... Margaret T. ... Kathy Osterman Beach. ... 57th Street Beach. ... Oakwood Beach. ... Foster Beach.More items...•
Why is Chicago River so blue?
The Chicago river has a distinctive color (and I don't mean St. Patrick's Day green) that is the result of the river's clay bottom, lake water, and algae: a lovely blue-green, best seen on warm weather days. (The lake water has only been part of the river's composition since the river was reversed in 1900.)
What is the closest beach town to Chicago?
The closest ocean beach to Chicago is in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Atlantic City, NJ is a world-famous seaside resort town located on Absecon Island. Meanwhile, the closest beach on the Gulf Coast is in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
What is the safest beach in Chicago?
Top 3 family-friendly Chicago beachesNorth Avenue Beach. VOTED BEST BIG CITY IN THE U.S. 5 YEARS IN A ROW. ... Foster Avenue Beach. This beach is the kid friendliest of them all. ... Oak Street Beach.
Are Chicago beaches free?
Chicago Beach Season While the beaches are free and open to all, there are certain guidelines visitors should expect to follow: Swim with lifeguards on duty: Swimming in Lake Michigan is permitted, but only when lifeguards are on watch, which is from 11am – 7pm daily.
Is Lake Michigan clean to swim in Chicago?
The water is pretty clean. The problem that Chicago has is in part due to gulls which cause most of the e-coli problems. The City closes beaches when levels get too high. You have competitive swimmers in the water every morning between Ohio Street Beach and Oak Street Beach.
Can you swim in the Chicago river?
“In short, the CAWS [Chicago Area Waterways] is not designed for swimming.” Indeed, many portions of the waterways were built specifically to be used as shipping canals or dock slips.
Is it OK to swim in Lake Michigan?
Swimming in Lake Michigan is an ' at your own risk' activity. All beaches managed by Milwaukee County parks do NOT have lifeguards. For current water quality reports along Lake Michigan visit the Wisconsin Beach Health website for water-quality reports. Break the Grip of the Rip!
Do people swim in Michigan lake?
Swimming Safety Tips Use caution when swimming in Lake Michigan. The bottom is uneven with holes and deep drop-offs. These inshore holes are very dangerous to small children and non-swimmers. The only beach with lifeguards is West Beach.
Where to swim in Chicago?
7 Top Spots to Swim Outside around Chicago. The Chicago Triathlon offers swim clinics at the Ohio Street Beach, one of the best options for open-water swimming in the city. Chicago Triathlon. If you ask someone where you can enjoy outdoor swimming around Chicago, they may just point to the east. After all, with one of the biggest freshwater lakes ...
Where is the 50 yard pool in Chicago?
Union Park. On the near west side, Union Park Pool features 50-yard lap swimming. Chicago Park District. This 50-yard outdoor pool on the near west side doesn’t have quite the same lap schedule as Holstein—in fact, there are usually only a few slots a week.
What beach is the Naperville Sprint Triathlon held at?
Centennial Beach is also home to the Naperville Sprint Triathlon on Aug. 2 and the annual Life Time Esprit de She women’s triathlon. 4. Harold Hall Quarry Beach. The home of the Batavia Triathlon each June, the Harold Hall Quarry Beach in Batavia is another unusual swimming facility that’s great for training.
What time does the Chicago Park District pool open?
It offers lap swimming from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. from Monday to Friday, with additional weekend hours. A month-long lap membership fee is only $25 at Chicago Park District pools, while you can get the full summer for $40.
How deep is the Naperville beach?
There’s big, zero-depth entry sand beach at one end of the giant “pool” for the kids. But this 6.2-million gallon behemoth stretches to a depth of 15 feet, with a group of lap-swimming lanes separating the shallow end from the deep end.
What time does Washington Park pool open?
On the south side, the Washington Park Pool features an Olympic-size 50-meters for lap swimming—but only in the mornings, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. during the week.
Can you swim a mile in Chicago?
While the Chicago Park District offers swimming at most of its beaches, they aren’t necessarily the most conducive to, say, a mile swim. Whether you’re training for a triathlon this summer or not, these outdoor swimming destinations give you a chance to put in some good distance under the sun.
5. Scuba Diving in Haigh Quarry
2738 E 2000N Rd; Kankakee Finally fulfill your dream of being Aquaman (take that, Adrian Grenier) at this spring-fed quarry an hour South of the city, where you can get Scuba-certified to swim with the fishes and check out underwater artifacts.
4. Hartigan Beach
1031 W Albion Ave; 312.742.7857 Sure, it's great having beaches so close to downtown, but hitting Oak Street can also mean throwing vicious elbows for blanket room, so why not trek north a bit to this less-trafficked Rogers Park spot with plenty of BBQ room?
3. Tubing on the Kishwaukee River
If you're capable of multi-tasking (i.e. swimming and drinking), try tubing down a stretch of the Kish’s 63mi with several drop-in points between Belvidere and Rockford. Probably don't try to do the whole thing.
2. Mount Baldy
Dune Acres, IN; 219.926.7561 Trek the trails at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for vista views of Lake Michigan atop Mount Baldy before it erodes like the Pacers backcourt. Get a running start on the massive dune before you plunge into the lake.
1. Playbar
10 S Clinton St; 312.612.5445 West Loop Fitness Formula Club has an outdoor pool with bartenders serving up mojitos & margaritas, and no kids allowed at night to pee everywhere. Adults are discouraged from peeing everywhere.
Where to rent jet skis in Chicago?
What to do: Head to the 31st Street Harbor to find Chicago Water Sports Rentals, where you can rent jet skis, pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddleboards.
When will Chicago beaches open?
All Chicago beaches will be open for the season from May 28 to Sept. 6, 2021.
What to do at North Avenue Beach?
What to do: Ready to work up a sweat? North Avenue Beach offers tons of recreation options. Get out on the water with a paddleboard and kayak or jet ski rentals. You can also rent bikes and cruise down the Lakefront Trail, take a beachfront yoga class, reserve a court and play beach volleyball, or just kick back in the sand and soak in the sun and skyline views.
How many miles of lakefront are there in Chicago?
Chicago’s 26 miles of scenic lakefront includes numerous public parks and gardens, an 18-mile Lakefront Trail — and more than two dozen free beaches. Here are a few spots you can kick back and soak in the sun at Chicago’s beautiful beaches.
What to do on the beach in Washburne?
What to do: When you’re done on the beach, walk over to South Shore Cultural Center, a gorgeous and historic building that houses a solarium, formal dining hall, a theater, the Washburne Culinary Institute, and the Dr. Margaret Burroughs gallery.
Where to eat in Oak Street Beach?
Where to eat: Reserve a cabana at Whispers at Oak Street Beach, where you can enjoy waterfront views and upscale beach fare, like ahi tuna nachos, crab cakes, and duck confit tacos.
Where is the World's Fair in Chicago?
The beach is part of historic Jackson Park, one of the city’s oldest parks and the site of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive. What to do: The beach offers a designated area for distance swimming and is the perfect stop after exploring the Museum of Science and Industry across the street.
THREE OAKS RECREATION CENTER
It’s hard to believe this aquatic park and beach was once a quarry. The surrounding city of Crystal Lake has transformed it into a peaceful oasis where you can swim, fish, bike and hike. Talk about an extreme makeover.
INDEPENDENCE GROVE
This Libertyville refuge boasts some impressive stats: a 115-acre manmade lake and 400 feet of sandy beach. All that, and it’s just 30 miles north of the city.
LAKE GENEVA
The lake is the main draw, but the historic mansions, walking trails and cozy restaurants are nothing to skip. Plan to spend a whole weekend here.
CENTENNIAL BEACH
Naperville has become a top city for young families, so it only makes sense that this local watering hole is so kid-friendly. Little ones must pass a swim test to dive in; from there, they’ll have access to the water slide, pump and sprayers in the shallow end of the 6.2-million-gallon lake.
INDIANA DUNES
OK, so the dunes are technically on Lake Michigan, but with their rolling, sandy duney-ness and tall grasses, they can feel like another world—so yeah, we had to include them here. Swim, hike, paddle and bike your way along the 15 miles of coastline.
How to view pool schedule?
To view a pool's schedule, click on the pool name from the list below to go to the pool's page. Call the park before going to check for changes or interruptions to the posted schedule.
What is considered an accessible pool?
A pool is considered accessible if it has an accessible path of travel to the pool and one or more of the following: zero depth entry, ramp, lift, ADA stairs.
Where can dogs be allowed on the beach in Chicago?
Two of Chicago’s beaches, Montrose Beach and Belmont Harbor Beach, have reserved dog-friendly areas for canines to kick up some sand. The Montrose Harbor Dog Beach, located at the northern end of the beach, is a 3.83-acre area open year-round where dogs can roam leashless.
What time do beaches open in Chicago?
Generally, beaches are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (unless signage indicates from dawn to dusk, according to a Chicago Park District spokeswoman).
What beach was the wave rider drowned on?
(Mike Killion) The city instituted a ban on all “self-propelled, wave-riding sports” like surfing and body-boarding after a 10-year-old girl riding an inflatable raft drowned at Montrose Beach in 1988. In 2009, surfers rallied against the ban, which was lifted that same year.
How many lifeguards are there in Chicago?
The Chicago Lifeguard Service is reportedly the largest municipal lifeguard service in the world, employing more than 1,000 lifeguards every summer. When the Chicago Park District was created in 1934, several separate lifeguard services were consolidated into one to form the service we know today.
Where did the steamboat run aground?
The steamboat was shuttling University of Chicago students to Gary, Indiana for a steel mill tour when it ran aground at Morgan Shoal, a vast dolomite limestone reef formed by glaciers millions of years ago.
Is there a signpost like this in Chicago?
You're not likely to see a signpost like this in Chicago anytime soon. (Waynejayes / Wikimedia Commons)
Is Chicago water tested every day?
No. 6: The Water Is Tested Every Day. The city is partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago to conduct same-day water testing at most of Chicago’s beaches. The new, rapid testing analyzes levels of bacterial DNA in a water sample within four hours, according to a study published by UIC researches.
